The purpose of this research is to examine the strategies newcomers employ to accumulate assets, minimize their vulnerability to risk exposure and become part of their new communities. “Getting by and getting ahead”. The following questions are guiding the study: 1. What are the strategies Latino immigrants use to integrate into communities and lead sustainable, high quality lives? 2. What factors facilitate or impede their economic integration?Includes bibliographical references

Dannerbeck, Anne

Flores, Lisa

Jeanetta, Stephen

Martinez, Domingo

Valdivia, Corinne

English

University of Missouri: MOspace

Measuring the Social and Cultural Contributions of Immigrants to Their Integration Efforts in Rural Communities Steve Jeanetta, University of Missouri, Cambio Center Corinne Valdivia, University of Missouri, Cambio Center Lisa Flores, University of Missouri, Cambio Center Domingo Martinez, University of Missouri, Cambio Center Anne Dannerbeck, State of Missouri Court System Rural Sociological Society  Santa Clara, CA August 5, 2007  Latinos in Missouri • Immigration of Latinos to otherwise uniform areas of the state, both rural and urban • In Missouri: 112% growth 1990-2003, like in other heartland and Southern states  • Over 130,000 people, distributed in every county of the state, with some counties showing 4 to 20-fold increases • States and local governments ill prepared to serve newcomers Latino Growth Rates Midwestern States: 1990-2000 Premise Less Than National Avg More Than 2x Growth Higher Than National Avg ATCHISON NODAWAY WORTH GENTRY HOLT HARRISON ANDREW DEKALB DAVIESS GRUNDY PUTNAM SULLIVAN SCHUYLER ADAIR LINN SCOTLAND KNOX CLARK LEWIS MACON SHELBY MARION CHARITON RANDOLPH MONROE RALLS CARROLL CALDWELL CLINTON RAY CLAY AUDRAIN LAFAYETTE SALINE HOWARD BOONE CALLAWAY LINCOLN PIKE WARREN ST. CHARLES FRANKLIN OSAGE COLE MONITEAU COOPER PETTIS JOHNSON HENRY BENTON MORGAN MILLER MARIES GASCONADE ST. LOUIS  ST. LOUIS    CITY JEFFERSON CRAWFORD WASHINGTON ST.  FRANCOIS STE.  GENEVIEVE PERRY PHELPS DENT PULASKI CAMDEN LACLEDE TEXAS REYNOLDS SHANNON IRON MADISON WAYNE CAPE  GIRARDEAU    BOLLINGER STODDARD BUCHANAN PLATTE JACKSON CASS BATES ST.  CLAIR VERNON HICKORY CEDAR DALLAS POLK BARTON JASPER NEWTON MCDONALD DADE GREENE LAWRENCE CHRISTIAN BARRY STONE TANEY WEBSTER WRIGHT DOUGLAS OZARK OREGON CARTER BUTLER NEW MADRID SCOTT MISSISSIPPI DUNKLIN PEMISCOT RIPLEY HOWELL MERCER LIVINGSTON MONTGOMERY Latina/o Population Growth Change: 1990 to 2000  More Than 4x Growth More Than 8x Growth OSEDA Office of Social & Economic Data Analysis  Food Processing Companies with 500 or more Employees & Latina/o Population Growth Change: 1990 to 2000  Food Processing Companies with 500 or more  employees Less Than National Avg More Than 2x Growth Lazos and Jeanetta, Cambio de Colores 2002 ATCHISON NODAWAY WORTH GENTRY HOLT HARRISON ANDREW DEKALB DAVIESS GRUNDY PUTNAM SULLIVAN SCHUYLER ADAIR LINN SCOTLAND KNOX CLARK LEWIS MACON SHELBY MARION CHARITON RANDOLPH MONROE RALLS CARROLL CALDWELL CLINTON RAY CLAY AUDRAIN LAFAYETTE SALINE HOWARD BOONE CALLAWAY LINCOLN PIKE WARREN ST. CHARLES FRANKLIN OSAGE COLE MONITEAU COOPER PETTIS JOHNSON HENRY BENTON MORGAN MILLER MARIES GASCONADE ST. LOUIS  ST. LOUIS    CITY JEFFERSON CRAWFORD WASHINGTON ST.  FRANCOIS STE.  GENEVIEVE PERRY PHELPS DENT PULASKI CAMDEN LACLEDE TEXAS REYNOLDS SHANNON IRON MADISON WAYNE CAPE  GIRARDEAU    BOLLINGER STODDARD BUCHANAN PLATTE JACKSON CASS BATES ST.  CLAIR VERNON HICKORY CEDAR DALLAS POLK BARTON JASPER NEWTON MCDONALD DADE GREENE LAWRENCE CHRISTIAN BARRY STONE TANEY WEBSTER WRIGHT DOUGLAS OZARK OREGON CARTER BUTLER NEW MADRID SCOTT MISSISSIPPI DUNKLIN PEMISCOT RIPLEY HOWELL MERCER LIVINGSTON MONTGOMERY More Than 4x Growth More Than 8x Growth Higher Than National Avg ATCHISON NODAWAY WORTH GENTRY HOLT HARRISON ANDREW DEKALB DAVIESS GRUNDY PUTNAM SULLIVAN SCHUYLER ADAIR LINN SCOTLAND KNOX CLARK LEWIS MACON SHELBY MARION CHARITON RANDOLPH MONROE RALLS CARROLL CALDWELL CLINTON RAY CLAY AUDRAIN LAFAYETTE SALINE HOWARD BOONE CALLAWAY LINCOLN PIKE WARREN ST. CHARLES FRANKLIN OSAGE COLE MONITEAU COOPER PETTIS JOHNSON HENRY BENTON MORGAN MILLER MARIES GASCONADE ST. LOUIS  ST. LOUIS    CITY JEFFERSON CRAWFORD WASHINGTON ST.  FRANCOIS STE.  GENEVIEVE PERRY PHELPS DENT PULASKI CAMDEN LACLEDE TEXAS REYNOLDS SHANNON IRON MADISON WAYNE CAPE  GIRARDEAU    BOLLINGER STODDARD BUCHANAN PLATTE JACKSON CASS BATES ST.  CLAIR VERNON HICKORY CEDAR DALLAS POLK BARTON JASPER NEWTON MCDONALD DADE GREENE LAWRENCE CHRISTIAN BARRY STONE TANEY WEBSTER WRIGHT DOUGLAS OZARK OREGON CARTER BUTLER NEW MADRID SCOTT MISSISSIPPI DUNKLIN PEMISCOT RIPLEY HOWELL MERCER LIVINGSTON MONTGOMERY Limited English Proficient Enrollments and Latina/o Population Growth Change:  1990 to 2000  LEP Enrollment Ranges from 0.6% to 29.2%.  For example: 0.6% 29.2% Less Than National Avg More Than 2x Growth More Than 4x Growth More Than 8x Growth Higher Than National Avg OSEDA. Lazos, Sylvia & Cambio de Colores 2002 ATCHISON NODAWAY WORTH GENTRY HOLT HARRISON ANDREW DEKALB DAVIESS GRUNDY PUTNAM SULLIVAN SCHUYLER ADAIR LINN SCOTLAND KNOX CLARK LEWIS MACON SHELBY MARION CHARITON RANDOLPH MONROE RALLS CARROLL CALDWELL CLINTON RAY CLAY AUDRAIN LAFAYETTE SALINE HOWARD BOONE CALLAWAY LINCOLN PIKE WARREN ST. CHARLES FRANKLIN OSAGE COLE MONITEAU COOPER PETTIS JOHNSON HENRY BENTON MORGAN MILLER MARIES GASCONADE ST. LOUIS  ST. LOUIS    CITY JEFFERSON CRAWFORD WASHINGTON ST.  FRANCOIS STE.  GENEVIEVE PERRY PHELPS DENT PULASKI CAMDEN LACLEDE TEXAS REYNOLDS SHANNON IRON MADISON WAYNE CAPE  GIRARDEAU    BOLLINGER STODDARD BUCHANAN PLATTE JACKSON CASS BATES ST.  CLAIR VERNON HICKORY CEDAR DALLAS POLK BARTON JASPER NEWTON MCDONALD DADE GREENE LAWRENCE CHRISTIAN BARRY STONE TANEY WEBSTER WRIGHT DOUGLAS OZARK OREGON CARTER BUTLER NEW MADRID SCOTT MISSISSIPPI DUNKLIN PEMISCOT RIPLEY HOWELL MERCER LIVINGSTON MONTGOMERY Latino/a “Hot Spot” racial profiling Jurisdictions and Latina/o & Population Growth Change: 1990 to 2000  1.12 20.45 Disparity Index Ranges from 1.12 to 20.45 For example: Lazos, Sylvia & Cambio de Colores, 2002 Less Than National Avg More Than 2x Growth More Than 4x Growth More Than 8x Growth Higher Than National Avg The purpose of this research is to examine the strategies newcomers employ to accumulate assets, minimize their vulnerability to risk exposure and become part of their new communities.     “Getting by and getting ahead”  The following questions are guiding the study: 1. What are the strategies Latino immigrants use to integrate into communities and lead sustainable, high quality lives? 2. What factors facilitate or impede their economic integration?  Strengths Based Model:  Livelihoods, Capitals, and the Context of Reception Livelihood Outcomes +Building Assets: economic and  social wellbeing -Vulnerabilities: - mobility Cultural  Capital  Identity & Institutions Social Capital  networks of support:   bridging and bonding Human Capital  (Education, Skill,  Language Proficiency  Nutrition Health) Economic  Capital (savings, assets) Community  Climate (Context of  Reception) School Climate Racial Profiling Integrating (+)  Bridging Institutions CBOs Livelihood Strategies capabilities –  the ability to act Financial  Institutions Alienating (-)  Social Capital What is Social Capital? • A form of capital that places value on the quality and quantity of relationships that exist within a community. • Social Capital can assist people as they strive to meet their basic needs as well as contribute to a person’s growth and development. Types of Social Capital • Bonding Social Capital • Bridging Social Capital  Social Capital Clientelism (internal and external ties are mainly vertical) Apathy; Extreme Individualism Inclusion  (horizontal ties within the community; diverse horizontal and vertical ties to the outside) Conflict with outside or internal factionalism Community Social Capital Typology Bonding Social Capital Bridging Social Capital + - + - Measuring Social Capital Social Capital and community integration. • Bonding Social Capital--social capital as connections within the immigrant community • Bridging Social Capital--strong links to other groups and institutions in the settling community Cultural Capital  For the purposes of this research culture resources are reflected in the attitudes, values and beliefs individual newcomers share.  We are especially interested in their attitudes, values and beliefs about financial institutions, social services, and the people and places they are encountering in their new communities and how they are shaped in the acculturation process. Acculturation Generational Status Primary language spoken to communicate with others Degree of affiliation with majority culture (e.g., composition of peer network, Anglicization of name) Role conflicts with regard to familial expectations Value systems, customs, and orientations (religion, political affiliation, etc.) Level of involvement in cultural traditions or activities Educational level of client, family members, relatives Skin color Location raised, currently living Religious identity, affiliation  Unidimensional  Traditional                     Acculturated Bidimensional High                                                        Low                             High Low MEXICAN AMERICAN Integration Marginalization Separation Assimilation ••••••Research Process  Purpose of the Focus Group Process Develop a picture of how immigrants are integrating economically and socially Develop a sense of immigrant perceptions on community climate and identity Develop an understanding of their perspectives on culture, identity and how the immigration process has affected those perceptions. Develop a framework for further analysis of social relationships and their effect on economic and social integration and community climate. Focus Group Process:  Observations on the process… Connecting to community partners Diversity of the participants Relationship between the facilitators and the participants Differences between the men and women’s groups • Women’s Isolation • Perspectives on differences in culture and discrimination • Attitudes towards sharing in a group Time and Place are important Purpose of the Photovoice Engage the participants in a critical reflection about the people and places where they live. Explore the values that are inherent in their views. Connect the research to the issues affecting development in the community. Initiate local dialogues about their places as receiving communities. Photovoice Process: Observations on the Process so far… Love the places, many were farmers where they came from--many photos of the local environment  Local bridge builders are important When there is a relationship with local community members it is generally good--but there are few relationships Level of fear is escalating Concerns about healthcare access Reflections It appears very little integration has taken place so far socially and culturally The lines being drawn at state and national policy levels is having negative effects at the local level. There appears to be a great deal of fear. The communities themselves are relatively isolated and self-reliant. Some communities ignore federal laws and others are “souring the milk”--very confusing to the immigrant. 

Measuring the social and cultural contributions of immigrants to their integration efforts in rural communities

https://mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/bitstream/10355/96387/1/AAS_2007_RSS.pdf

Measuring the social and cultural contributions of immigrants to their integration efforts in rural communities

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